Tampa finished the 2017 season ranked last in the league against the pass, after finishing 22nd in 2016. Clearly, something had to be done, considering the Buccaneers are in the division that Drew Brees, Matt Ryan and Cam Newton call home. Brent Grimes, who’s entering his 12th season, and Vernon Hargreaves return from last season’s roster, and the Bucs used second-round picks on cornerbacks M.J. Stewart (53rd overall) and Carlton Davis (63rd overall) in the 2018 NFL Draft. How the Buccaneers’ pass defense holds up in 2018 will have a large role in determining close games, an area of focus for a team that lost four of its final five games by a combined 15 points. The team’s secondary should get a boost from the Bucs’ revamped defensive line, which includes free-agent signees Jason Pierre-Paul, Beau Allen, Vinny Curry and Mitch Unrein, in addition to the drafting of first-round pick (12th overall) Vita Vea.

The Buccaneers haven’t been to the playoffs in 10 years and were hoping last season would change that. Instead, the Bucs unfortunately finished 5-11 in a disastrous season that ended far from a trip to the post-season. As a result general manager Jason Licht and company spent all offseason addressing both sides of the ball and are hoping to turn things around once and for all when Tampa Bay returns to the field this fall.

Email

Like this article?

Sign up for the Bucs Wire email newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning

An error has occured

Please re-enter your email address.

Thanks for signing up!

You'll now receive the top Bucs Wire stories each day directly in your inbox.